Print edition for December 11, 2001

Farrell, active in Sons of Erin, charitable groups, dies: When it came to putting on an event to honor Irish-Americans, Ted Farrell saw to every detail, whether it was dealing with the logistics of putting on the 36th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade downtown last March or making sure the beer for the after-parade party was dyed green.

Shooting of girl, 8, not gang violence: Keith Paul; An 8-year-old girl was hit by a stray bullet from a gunfight started over a traffic argument, not a gang-related vendetta, Metro Police said.

Red Cross faces crucial season: As the American Red Cross heads into what it calls its peak season for residential fires, the need for donations also is peaking.

Holiday Auction deadline approaching: A full list of items ran in the Nov. 23 Accent section. You can check out the list by visiting the Sun website (lasvegassun.com) and clicking on the Sun Holiday Auction link. Submit your bid with the numbers listed, on a sheet of paper or 3x5 index card (preferred). You can bid on as many items as you like, but each bid must be listed on a separate piece of paper or index card (no exceptions).

Immunization schedule for December 11, 2001: EAST LAS VEGAS PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER: 560 N. Nellis Blvd., Suite E12, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Community briefs for December 11, 2001: Highland Hills Baptist Church of Henderson will present its third annual "Drive Through Nativity" 7-9 p.m. each night through Sunday. It is free, and the public is invited to the event.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Workers branch out for holidays: We walked past the stiff blue spruces and the trees big enough to require another trip to the store for more lights and settled in among the pines in the middle rows.

Editorial: Champion should be decided on the field: The University of Oregon and the University of Colorado, which will meet in the Fiesta Bowl, were ranked No. 2 and No. 3 respectively in the polls by the media and coaches. For that matter, the No. 4-ranked Nebraska team is playing for the national title despite the fact that Colorado buried Nebraska in its final game of the season, 62-36. There even is the possibility that should Nebraska upset Miami in the Rose Bowl, the winner of the Oregon-Colorado game easily could make a case that they are the best team in the land. The confusion is brought to ...

Ferraro receives Berkley barrage: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Shortly after Geraldine Ferraro agreed to lead a national lobby campaign on behalf of the Yucca Mountain project, she received a phone call from an irked Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev.

Columnist Kate Maddox: Marino still a drag on Strip: Kate Maddox; "It's a navy blue Bob Mackie," Marino said. "But the best part is the red, white and blue fur stole I had made to match." Go on, girl. "It's fake, of course, by Fabulous Furs."

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Four Winston Cup drivers get new crew chiefs: There has been almost as much movement among NASCAR Winston Cup crew chiefs as there has been among drivers since the season ended nearly three weeks ago.

Vegas executives enthusiastic about new investment: "The potential of $800 million in new investment provides a fully funded business plan, significantly reduces XO's debt and engages two strategic partners who understand XO's opportunity and believe in XO's continued ability to perform well operationally," said Joe Brondon, general manager of XO Nevada.

Editorial: Spending that is out of control: An internal audit in February 2000 found that in 1999 more than $90,000 in student fees went to pay for parties, out-of-state junkets and expensive dinners for student government leaders. It wasn't until July 2001, however, after Sun reporter Jennifer Knight disclosed the audit's findings and reported on other questionable expenditures by CCSN's student government, that CCSN officials took steps to prevent these kinds of abuses.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: BCS is more baffling than Britney: Lemmee see if I have this straight: Nebraska, a team that couldn't even win its division or qualify for its conference championship game and got blown out in its last regular-season outing, gets to play for the national title because TCU beat Southern Miss in a meaningless game played last Friday night?

Obituaries for December 11, 2001: Stephen Avakian, 73, of Las Vegas died Saturday in Las Vegas. A space engineer, he was born April 1, 1928, in Michigan.

Young expects police union support: Erin Neff; Bill Young was expected get a huge boost for his campaign to be the next Clark County sheriff this afternoon with one of the most important endorsements of the race.

Guinn again calling on Bush administration to act on power rates: CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn is again calling on the Bush administration to change its energy policy to give relief to customers of Nevada Power Co., who face a more than 20 percent rate increase in electric rates next year.

Letter: Fear-mongering over nuclear power accident: First, you talk of a "Chernobyl-like" accident, as if that were a possibility in the United States. It's like saying that tax dollars may someday be spent to clean up an "Exxon Valdez-like" accident on Lake Mead. The design and containments of Russian and U.S. reactors are near complete opposites. The Russians have to work very hard to keep their reactor from going super critical (blowing up). The American have to work very hard to keep our reactors critical (not shutting down).

Downtown feasibility study nearly done: Diana Sahagun; Las Vegas officials are at the midway point in negotiations with Southwest Sports Group to develop 61 acres downtown and expect to have a study outlining the best use for the property within the next month.

Good books: Christian booksellers say sales continue to boom: Stacy J. Willis; Jesus sells.

Cybercrime in Clark County is growing problem, say experts: David Strow; When people think of casino robberies, they usually think of a bad guy with a mask and a gun.

Rule could put Busch's truck career on hold: Kyle Busch's bid for NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Rookie of the Year likely has been put off until 2004 because of a new rule instituted Monday by NASCAR prohibiting drivers under 18 from competing in any of its touring divisions.

Debate rages over extent of gambling in Nebraska: Kevin O'Hanlon; By Kevin O'Hanlon ASSOCIATED PRESS

Jewelry deal goes awry; man shot: The attacker left the home with gunshot wounds, but an accomplice fled with the jewels, police said.

Monday's prep results: BOYS BASKETBALL

Letter: Three cheers for Montandon: Conversely, Mayor Oscar Goodman in his Las Vegas City Council broadway productions allows anything to be said, particularly speeches praising him or support for his vain personal goals.

Park Place donates $300,000 to help laid-off workers: The foundation today made its first donations -- a total of $300,000 that will benefit displaced casino workers in Las Vegas and Reno.

Rate-cutting likely to end with quarter-point reduction: They think the Fed will cut rates for an 11th time this year at the close of its meeting today. But many analysts believe the rate cut will be a smaller quarter-point move that will signal that the central bank may be finished with its credit easing campaign.

Governor may hold up gaming, sales tax figures: CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn is changing a longtime practice of immediately releasing gaming revenues and sales tax receipts to the public every month.

Wednesday's horse racing entries: Post Time 12:30 p.m.

Feds targeting discrimination in workplace: By Timothy Pratt; Because it has seen more blatant violations of workplace laws here than in neighboring states, the federal agency that combats workplace discrimination is stepping up its presence in Las Vegas.

Guinn, Del Papa urge DOE to delay Yucca action: CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn and Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa are asking Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham to delay recommending Yucca Mountain as the nation's nuclear waste repository.

News briefs for December 11, 2001: The court Monday upheld the decision of District Judge Kathy Hardcastle that the Sky Ranch Estates Owners Association should have title to the property. It rejected the claim of Sandy Valley Associates, which developed the area about 50 miles southwest of Las Vegas.

Miller, mother to many aspiring fighters, dies: No matter how many big boxing stars worked out at the Golden Gloves Gym, the facility's co-founder Faye Miller always had a soft spot in her heart for the younger, less skilled fighters.

Four new schools to open midyear: Terry Webster; The Clark County School District's fight to keep up with growing student enrollment continues with four new schools opening midyear.

Sun Girls Hoops Top 10: Teams ranked jointly by the Sun and Sparks Tribune.

HIV case draws 3-year sentence: Kim Smith; District Judge Sally Loehrer sentenced a Las Vegas man to three years in prison for knowingly exposing another man to the AIDS virus, but the judge said that if he doesn't get the proper treatment in prison, she will reconsider his sentence.

Winter returns; more cold on way: Ed Koch and Angela Soo; Spoiled by unseasonably good weather for much of the early winter, Southern Nevadans from Las Vegas to Primm buckled up their coats today and dodged sporadic snowflakes.

Letter: Lobbyists kill legislation: For too long I have felt that the abundance of lobbyists prevents important and needed bills from being discussed. As a result of too many lobbyists, many times bills are either not heard or rushed through without proper hearings.

A few dollars Moore: Victoria Sun; Mike Moore grew up 45 miles south of Chicago in a rural town called Kankakee, Ill.

Projects to get fed help: Jace Radke; A signature from President Bush is all that's needed to secure more than $67 million in funding for transportation projects in Nevada.

Some frustrated with lack of SBA assistance: Grace Leong; The maximum interest rate for special loans tied to the terrorist attacks is 4 percent and loan terms up to 30 years are allowed. The deadline for applications is Jan. 21, 2002.

NFR notebook: Steer wrestling almost ends up all in the family: Victoria Sun; The fourth steer wrestling go-round at the National Finals Rodeo turned out to be a family affair.

Park Place CFO resigning: LaPorta said he is leaving to pursue a business opportunity in the San Francisco Bay area. LaPorta has been commuting weekly to Las Vegas from San Francisco since his marriage in June, the company said.

2001 National Finals Rodeo results - round 4: World standings: 1, Cody Ohl, Stephenville, Texas, $267,630. 2, Trevor Brazile, Pueblo, Colo., $192,692. 3, Jesse Bail, Camp Crook, S.D., $184,934. 4, Scott Johnston, Gustine, Texas, $172,599. 5, Cash Myers, Athens, Texas, $158,749. 6, Blair Burk, Durant, Okla., $137,419.

Nevada bank operator expanding in California: Michael Liedtke; Bank of the West entered the Southern Nevada market Jan. 16 when it opened seven branch locations formerly operated by First Security Bank. Since then, the bank has not expanded locally, bank spokesman John Stafford said. The company has had a presence in the state since it debuted branches in Carson City and Reno in 1999. A third Northern Nevada branch opened in Sparks in November 2000.

Gambling operator's stock up: Alliance stock advanced $1.70, or 6.8 percent, to $26.80 on the news this morning.

Gambling operator's stock advances on strong report: Alliance stock advanced $1.70, or 6.8 percent, to $26.80 on the news this morning.

Del Papa taking open meeting case to high court: CARSON CITY -- Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa has filed notice she will appeal a District Court's ruling that denied a challenge claiming the university regents violated the state's open-meeting law.

VEGAS SPORTS ON TV-RADIO: VEGAS SPORTS ON TV-RADIO

Ralph Siraco's selections for Wednesday's races at Hollywood Park: 1st Race -- Fancy Begining -- Delahoussaye atop Peterson trainee, draws good spot for route opener, adds blinkers for this. Goldminers Gal -- McCarron astride Knight trainee for owner Asmussen, must overcome outside post, connections right for maiden-claimer. Value Play -- Alystone Lane

Rebels miss Kambala's presence: Steve Addy; WHAT: UNLV (3-3) at Loyola Marymount (5-3)

Las Vegans are honored as SCORE's top drivers: MacCachren won four of five SCORE races en route to winning Class 1-2/1600 and his first SCORE overall crown. Herbst won an unprecedented fifth consecutive title in Class 1 for unlimited open-wheel desert racecars and Anderson won the very competitive Class 10 championship for the second time in three years.

Nestle, Ralston Purina deal OK'd: The deal, approved by the Federal Trade Commission, will make Nestle the leader in the $25 billion pet-food industry by expanding its offering of cat and dog food.

Gun found in airport bag: John Charles Goodell, 50, was arrested at the D Gate checkpoint about 7:50 p.m., when security screeners detected a .25 caliber Derringer-style gun inside a leather case, police said.

Nellis, nation mark three-month anniversary of Sept. 11 attacks: About 400 Nellis Air Force Base troops lined up before sunrise today around Building No. 1 -- the American flag -- to mark without fanfare or speeches the three-month anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

Barry hanging on: Manilow awaiting fan response to latest release: Kirk Baird; Or rather, it's his penchant for crafting some of the best and catchiest pop tunes this side of the Atlantic.

Ali: Smith's performance is the greatest: Three-time world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali says the message of his new biographical movie "Ali" is "work hard and believe, and you will be vindicated."

Neighboring states offer variety of gaming: Gambling allowed in Nebraska and surrounding states:

Habitat plan to be heard for Coyote Springs: The developer, headed by influential state lobbyist Harvey Whittemore, hopes to build as many as 50,000 homes and a handful of golf courses in the area about 50 miles north of Las Vegas. But Coyote Springs Investments first must get federal and state approvals for water use and habitat protection.

Statewide keno game set to expand: Nevada Numbers is a hybrid between a keno game and lotto, giving the player the option to pick up to five numbers in a field of 80. If a player correctly picks all five numbers that are drawn, the player wins a progressive jackpot that starts at $5 million. Games are held once a day at Bally's Las Vegas and are simulcast to other casinos.

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: Night full of magic: When my friend, Bill Walters, called to tell me about a special evening he and Susan were helping plan this past Sunday, I got one of those feelings that have become more prevalent as I have grown older. While I had heard of the Magical Forest, it was not something about which I was very familiar. So when he told me about the Holiday Angel Party and suggested that Myra and I might have fun volunteering to help, it was easy to say yes. First of all, you can't say no to Billy because when he asks for help it ...

Bulldogs look fierce in South: Leah Robinson and Spencer Patterson; The annual quest to bring the large-school girls basketball state title back to Southern Nevada for the first time since 1980 is under way once again, and Las Vegas-area teams will have a distinct advantage this year.